Policy. Science. Business.

CAMPAIGN 2016

In Mont. governor race, candidates vie to be coal's champion

Benjamin Storrow, E&E News reporter

Published: Thursday, November 3, 2016

Montana gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte (R) has visited the town of Colstrip six times in the last year. The community of 2,300 might seem like an odd place to mine for votes — but what Colstrip lacks in electoral heft, it makes up for in symbolic importance. The eastern Montana prairie town is home to the second-largest coal-fired power plant west of the Mississippi River. And like most coal plants these days, its future is very much in doubt.

Call it a choice between "Black Panther" and blackouts in the rollout of super-fast 5G internet technology. America's tech titans are lined up against electric utilities in a noisy fight for control of wireless spectrum power companies say is critical for communications if a natural disaster darkens a city or hackers breach the grid.

Call it a choice between "Black Panther" and blackouts in the rollout of super-fast 5G internet technology. America's tech titans are lined up against electric utilities in a noisy fight for control of wireless spectrum power companies say is critical for communications if a natural disaster darkens a city or hackers breach the grid.